Many developers still treat land prospecting and grid evaluation as two separate steps. Find a promising parcel first, then hope the interconnection works out later. But in today’s saturated markets, that approach no longer cuts it. Grid feasibility is now a critical determinant of site viability, especially as battery storage, retrofit hybrids, and queue delays grow more complex.
Across markets, the reality is the same: viable substations are scarce, queue timelines are long, and public capacity data is patchy at best. Developers who move forward without grid insight risk wasting months on permitting, design, or landowner negotiations, only to learn too late that the site can’t connect.
Instead, leading teams are flipping the workflow. They’re using grid data to drive land screening decisions, not just validate them. This shift to grid-first prospecting is helping developers move faster, avoid dead ends, and align internal teams around buildable sites from day one.
What Grid-First Prospecting Looks Like
Grid-first prospecting means treating grid feasibility as a site selection filter, not a post-check. That starts with integrating substation data, voltage levels, and capacity overlays into your initial screening. GIS and Business Development teams can then apply smart filters like:
- Parcels within 1 km of a viable substation
- Medium- or high-voltage line proximity
- Zones not flagged as congested or under study
- Exclusion of areas near saturated nodes
By overlaying these constraints with land ownership, zoning, and terrain data, teams can immediately focus on sites that are both buildable and connectable. This is especially valuable for:
- Standalone BESS: Grid access often defines the site
- Hybrid PV+BESS: Infrastructure costs and queue strategy are shaped by node type
- Retrofit projects: Grid-first filters help find storage retrofit candidates near existing PV
Rather than bouncing between tools or waiting on engineers, grid-first prospecting empowers developers to pre-qualify sites quickly and confidently.
Key Factors to Evaluate Early
Once you’ve identified land near grid infrastructure, the next step isn’t just checking for a connection, it’s qualifying the right connection. Not all substations or overhead lines will meet your technical, economic, or permitting needs. Below are five key factors that leading developers evaluate early to de-risk grid feasibility and avoid stranded effort.
1. Available Capacity and Headroom
Start with the basics: is there enough injection or withdrawal headroom to accommodate your system size? Many substations appear viable on a map but lack confirmed capacity, or are pending studies that could delay or reject your application.
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In some markets (like France and parts of Spain), capacity maps may lag behind real-time queue data by months.
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Where possible, check historical acceptance rates and any “under study” flags from TSOs/DSOs.
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For BESS in particular, make sure you understand if the node supports charging and discharging cycles at your desired MW level.
Pro tip: Glint Solar surfaces grid-constrained zones so you can deprioritize parcels in saturated areas before entering landowner discussions or requesting studies.
2. Voltage Compatibility with Asset Type
Not every node suits every project. Smaller PV or standalone storage systems often look for 20–33 kV connections, while utility-scale hybrid projects might require 90–150 kV or higher.
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Connecting to higher-voltage infrastructure can reduce losses and improve energy yield, but usually increases permitting complexity and cost.
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Some developers apply a ‘voltage filter’ at the prospecting stage to align with their asset class and avoid mismatched nodes later.
Example: A 4-hour BESS aimed at balancing day-ahead market volatility may require different node access than a solar + storage system selling under a fixed PPA.
3. Ownership and Permitting Complexity (DSO vs TSO)
Understanding who owns the infrastructure - Distribution System Operator (DSO) or Transmission System Operator (TSO) -is critical for planning connection applications.
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DSO connections tend to be faster but may limit system size or export rules.
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TSO connections are often better for large-scale projects but bring stricter requirements, longer review timelines, and additional studies.
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Ownership also determines how queue rules, cost-sharing, and grid expansion plans apply.
Note: Some developers use overlays showing network jurisdiction boundaries to better plan their application routes and cost expectations.
4. Queue Position and Timelines
Grid connection is not just about where, but when. Knowing how long it takes to move through the queue is vital.
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Many substations in high-demand areas already have multi-year backlogs.
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In places like Germany or Italy, regional transmission authorities may enforce capacity freezes, meaning even viable nodes are temporarily off-limits.
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Some developers build queue insight into site qualification checklists to avoid parcels with hidden delays.
Strategy tip: Check if co-locating with an existing asset (for retrofit BESS) lets you bypass queues through hybridization.
5. Connection Access and Line Routing Feasibility
A substation might look viable, but if reaching it requires trenching across roads, protected zones, or multiple land parcels, the real cost and risk may outweigh the benefits.
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Long-distance line extensions increase both CapEx and permitting risk.
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Developers often apply a proximity threshold (e.g. <500m from node) during initial screening to flag easy-to-connect sites.
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Glint Solar enables quick line routing validation by drawing access paths directly on the map and checking for topographic, environmental, or ownership conflicts.
Cost-saving insight: Early identification of line access constraints can help avoid months of redundant design or permitting effort.
How Glint Solar Enables Grid-First Screening
Glint Solar helps developers integrate grid visibility directly into their prospecting process. From the first site search, teams can:
- Visualize substations and lines by voltage level
- Apply proximity filters to surface viable grid-adjacent parcels
- Flag congested or constrained zones
- Compare multiple project types (PV, BESS, hybrid) across the same node
- Design layout drafts with technical setbacks and grid access in mind
Want to see the full webinar? See it here.
With everything in one interface, teams no longer need to juggle GIS exports, siloed grid maps, or engineering wait times. Grid feasibility becomes a shared input, not a downstream bottleneck.
Final Thoughts
Grid-first prospecting is no longer optional. As interconnection timelines stretch and BESS economics hinge on grid positioning, developers that prioritize grid early are outpacing those who treat it as a check-box. Whether you’re evaluating standalone storage, new hybrid builds, or retrofit plays, your shortlist should begin with the grid.
